Official Bio

JOSIE JAMES - SINGER, PERFORMER, RECORDING ARTIST, SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN

 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Grammy nominated singer Josie James is equally at home on the concert stage or in the recording studio with a track record that has been praised by many. She sings a wide variety of music influenced by R&B, gospel, pop and jazz. Since embarking on a career in the music world as a singer, Josie has recorded and/or toured with Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and The Jacksons, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind and Fire, Philip Bailey, Phil Collins, Billy Ocean, Quincy Jones, Patrice Rushen, David Foster, Robert Goulet, Connie Stevens, Elvis Costello, Ronald Isley, Burt Bacharach, and jazz icons Joe Sample, The Crusaders, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Al Jarreau, and many others. Jazz fusion fans will remember Josie James as the lead vocalist of the George Duke Band.

When Josie was 8 years old, her father pushed her onto a stage in front of a large audience where she grabbed the mic and sang Poison Ivy while holding a doll in her hand. Later on during her high school days, the senior class voted Josie Most Talented Senior and she went on to win numerous awards throughout her college years. James had no idea that she would eventually work with many of the artists she loved and listened to.

Josie’s recording and performance career was launched when she sang the lead vocal on What’s the Story from Patrice Rushen’s Before the Dawn album. Her next big break came when Stevie Wonder asked her to sing on his classic album, Songs in the Key of Life. The second hit single from that album featured Josie James on Another Star. Stevie invited her again to sing on his Hotter Than July and Secret Life of Plants albums.

As one of the most sought after session vocalists in the business, Josie has been heard on many of the Top 10 albums and singles throughout her career. Josie James appeared in the hit single Easy Lover video with Phil Collins and Philip Bailey, sang with Bailey on his multi-platinum Chinese Wall album, and toured Japan as his featured guest artist. Josie also performed with Japanese superstar Toshi Kabuta on his Bonga Wonga tour.

Josie James received a Grammy Award nomination for her performance of Street Life from the album Royal Jam with The Crusaders, B.B. King, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded live at Royal Festival Hall. At ​the Academy Awards James performed medleys of some of the most popular nominated songs during the live ceremonies. She performed at London’s Wembley Arena in front of 100,000 people for The Nelson Mandela Freedom Concert, which was televised worldwide, London’s Jazz Café, featured artist at the JVC Jazz Festival with guitarist Earl Klugh at the Hollywood Bowl, North Sea Jazz Festival, Tokyo Jazz Festival, Billboard Live, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, ​the Jerry Lewis Telethon, and several television appearances in England, such as ​the Jools Holland Show, Selena Scott, and the BBC One show among others.

Josie James’ own solo career commenced with her debut album, Candles, which was released in the UK and has been considered a jazz/pop vocal classic. Once Josie’s voice came to the attention of the legendary hit songwriter Burt Bacharach, she began performing around the world with Mr. Bacharach. As a featured vocalist for Bacharach over the past several years, Josie James has performed on the Summer Pops concerts​, and several television specials such as Sessions On 54th Street with Elvis Costello, McCormick Presents Burt Bacharach Tribute on Ice​, Ronald Isley Meets Burt Bacharach on PBS, and the BBC Electric Proms at The Roundhouse, singing her memorable and popular version of the Bacharach/David classic, Anyone Who Had a Heart.

Josie James performs on Burt’s albums At This Time and Live at the Sydney Opera House, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Josie James headlined with the San Diego Symphony singing The Music of James Bond and future concert dates are being planned. Josie’s album That Jazz, is her latest release which has received great reviews. James continues to perform worldwide and has plans of a promotional tour for That Jazz.